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Walking quietly down the heavily trodden road Airlea arched her back and pressed her gloved fingers into the small of her back with a soft groan. That straw mattress she’d been unlucky enough to inhabit last night was more uncomfortable than the cold ground she usually slept on. Disgruntled, the rider returned her hand to its usual position on her sword’s hilt. Her mount at her side, Airlea glided softly down the road towards the market that was but a few more kilometers ahead. Having ridden hard the past week, she knew it was time to give her faithful companion a day’s rest; she enjoyed walking anyway.Staring out from under the hood that concealed her face, Airlea cast a glance towards the rising sun. Sleek lines of molten white seared across the eastern sky acting as the first indicators of day. Lazy sun, she’d been up for hours already.As she neared the small village the scent of fresh bread and frying eggs filtered through the air around her. Inhaling the pleasant aroma, she quickened her pace. Upon reaching the vender, a plump woman surrounded by baked delicacies, the bronze skinned elf selected a few pastries, paid the woman, and continued to make her way through the market. As she nibbled on a pastry, Airlea stopped to linger beside a tent the showed off a beautiful silk dress in dazzling green. The same color as her own intense green eyes. Feeling relaxed and quite safe in the remote village, Airlea removed her hood and lifted her hair out from beneath it, allowing the vibrant read waves to cascade well past her back and towards her knees. She rarely allowed herself such freedom, but today she didn’t feel like being Airlea the warriour, the assassin, the wanderer, or anything else. No, today she felt like being a woman. Reaching out, she touched the fabric, a rare smile softening the hardness that seemed to meld itself to her beautiful face.

ooc: Finally! Just had to think up a way to get her in a rather relaxed state of mind. It wasn't easy!

Rune smiled and stretched, looking amazingly fresh and chipper for having been up for the past two days without sleep. He was on an assignment, one that was almost completed actually. His eyes had been dyed to a blue, hiding the fact that he was an alb and didn't really belong anywhere within the realm of Fynrir. Yet, here he was, as smiley and charming as ever. No one would guess to look at him that he was an alb... his disguise was too good for that. And he was very good at controlling his anger, making it impossible to tell what he was based on personality.

A yawn tried to break over his lips, though he quickly pushed the desire away and clenched his jaw, preventing it from appearing. Today was his last day in elven lands before he left to go back to Albaeir, and he intended to enjoy it. At least, as much as he could while he was working. He no longer enjoyed working for the guild, then again, he never really had. It had all been an annoying inheritance almost, an oppressive one at that. His family for generations had been in the guild, leaving him little choice but to join as well. It was too many years ago to count... he had lost track. Though, he supposed there was little he could do besides accept it as his lot in life and do it to the best of his ability. Which was how he did basically everything.

Rune was jerked out of his musings by the sight of a hard looking elf walking toward him. Hard she was, but her beauty was beyond compare. In a hard way.... Rune smiled faintly to himself and ducked back behind the table that was part of his guise, watching her, waiting to see if she would be attracted to anything hanging in his booth. He watched her carefully, his grin growing. Oh, but she was lovely...

As she fingered the dress he slowly moved around over to her side, so he was standing just over her shoulder. She seemed completely absorbed, not appearing to notice him. Perfect...

"The only way that dress could be more lovely is if it was not only on you, but was the shade of your eyes."

Airlea had an uncanny danger signal built into her. Her unnatural ability to sense danger before it became a real threat had saved her life and the lives of her companions more times than she could recall.

When a voice suddenly spoke behind her shoulder her whole body jerked and her startled eyes flew up to meet those of the man standing behind her. The hand that had been caressing the fine fabric flew back beneath her cloak to rest on the hilt of her blade. It was an unconscious reaction, one bred from a millennium of fighting.

The fact that she had not sensed the man's presence behind her but her at ease. If he was dangerous to her, she would have known.

Scarlet strands of vibrant hair fell away from her face as she tilted her graceful chin to meet his eyes more fully. A dazzling green, her eyes were her second most stunning feature, second only to her glorious hair. However, although exquisite in color, her eyes betrayed the hardships and the ages of battling that the woman had lived through.

Lips cracking into a slight smile, she returned her attention to the dress, moving her stance a little so that he was not at her back. The man was definitely not lacking in the looks department or flattery, but she was wary all the same. Her voice a husky murmur, she shook her head slightly

"No, it could not be more beautiful. But what use would I have for such a frivolous thing?"

Indeed, wearing a gown like this while galloping astride a horse or tracking through the wilderness was hardly practical. The smile faded from her lips, the lines of her face returning to the solemn, almost sad, mask that usually covered her features. No, she was not meant to wear things like this. She would never be. Her plot in life was carved in stone.

Rune smiled as she turned her face to look at him, the way her hair framed her features made her look so glorious.. so angelic even. She had to be the most beautiful woman he had seen in years, and that was saying something. Then again, he said that about every woman he met....

He cocked his head to the side slightly and smiled, glad that she had not tried to break his arm for sneaking up on her. For he had no doubt whatsoever that she could and would do it. She could probably do worse. It could have been his neck instead of his arm. But even still, the fact that she had smiled, however faintly, showed that she was either not in an attacking mood, or found him to be no threat. He hoped it wasn't the latter, he wasn't sure his ego could take such a blow. Or... she could have found him so incredibly handsome that she was struck dumb and dared not to touch him for fear of swooning.

Yeah... that was it!

Rune grinned even wider as his eyes stared straight into hers, a smooth remark flowing effortlessly onto his lips.

"Why, it is simple, my lady. To make all the men in Fynrir fall in love with you. Not that you need the help, of course. Your beauty far surpasses the dress'. However, if we were to put you in a dress such as this one, I cannot imagine what a sight you would be to behold."

Rune felt his stomach turn. He hated playing a shopkeeper. It was so much more fun to just flirt without having to try to sell something at the same time.

Valzaan, Airlea’s chestnut mount, shifted beside her. Ears lying back against his skull, the sleek war-horse extended his muzzle towards the man. Uttering a sharp snort, the beast stepped back, flinging up his head, its intelligent eyes focused intently upon his master’s companion.

Reaching up with one hand, Airlea laid her hand against Valzaan’s far cheek, her fingers light upon his hide. Murmuring a few soft words in elvish, she calmed the powerful horse while watching the market-man.

The easy smile that blossomed on the man’s handsomely carved face added the finishing touches to the most beautiful male countenance Airlea had ever beheld. She had seen many faces over her lifetime, but the vitality, the sparkle, and the raw physical beauty of the man before her was enough to make even her frozen heart thaw slightly. What woman didn’t appreciate a handsome man? The red-headed elf hadn’t glanced at a man in over a hundred years. The unsuspected and unfamiliar feeling of attraction that was slowly unraveling itself within her sent wild warning bells clanging through Airlea’s head.

But as she listened to his pitch, an amused light appeared in her eyes. Ah, but he was a sales man. Shaking her head slightly, Airlea raised a hand to stop his smooth flow of words.

“Enough. I cannot be buying your dress; though it is very beautiful. Tell what you just told me to another woman and I’m sure you won’t have it for long.”

Turning back into the street, she gave him a nod. The cool mask that had been only moments before lifted from her face fell back into its usual position. Habit.

“Good-day”

As she turned, a slight twinge of regret settled low in her belly.

ooc: I don’t want this to end, I just have to stay with character. Can he call her back or follow her? Or we can start another thread with another surprise meeting. Whatever. I’m not sure how Rune ticks, Airlea is just terrified of love ?

Rune grinned as she walked away, a strange reaction for anyone but him. She was refusing to buy the dress.... that didn't really surprise him. As lovely as she would look in it, he thought she looked even more so in the clothing she was already in. It fit everything about her perfectly, it wouldn't surprise him if it took a ton of work to get her into a dress. Still, if anyone could do it, he could. Just like her walking away would dissuade anyone but him.

He followed after her, catching her in a matter of seconds as he ran while she walked. Rune fell into step beside her, not caring that he was leaving his booth unattended. Its actual owner would be back the next day, and Rune didn't really care about making any profit for the man. The guild had payed him more than enough just to let Rune run the booth as a cover.

"But if I told it to any other woman, it would be a lie."

Rune grinned almost boyishly down at her, wondering how she would react to his following her.

"And do not think I am merely interested in selling you the dress. I was more trying to make conversation than sell you something. I could care less if you bought anything from me... I just wanted to talk."

Casting her gaze sky ward, Airlea rolled her eyes. With a sigh of strained patience, she turned her face sharply to meet his smiling face. Her fierce eyes narrowing, she pursed her lips into a frown to hide the tilt of amusement that had just about graced them. He was a very persistent sales-man.

“Men like you never seem to have trouble lying to woman. I said “No”.”

Pivoting, she changed her course. Long legs propelling her forward, she peered at him out of the corner of her eyes. It should be against the laws of nature of have men that attractive. It just wasn’t fair. Ignoring him as she was, the elf was mildly surprised that he was still following her. Jerking her delicate chin in the direction of several human maids who stood beside the road, giggling and pointing at the man by her side, Airlea sniffed disdainfully.

“Why not sell you wares to them? I’m sure they’d appreciate your smooth tongue more than I do.”

She was being overly harsh, and she knew it. However, Airlea wasn’t accustomed to flattery…or a man’s attentions…or simply being anything but harsh. Her attraction to the strange was making her severely uncomfortable. The faster she scared him away, the better for the both of them. The last time she’d taken a lover, he had lived but a few months. That was over a hundred years ago; and she knew that nothing had changed since then. Airlea still had many enemies. His next words caught her totally off guard.

"And do not think I am merely interested in selling you the dress. I was more trying to make conversation than sell you something. I could care less if you bought anything from me... I just wanted to talk."

Startled, a flash of vulnerability crossed her face. He just wanted to talk with her? Stiffening, she shook her head.

Rune resisted the urge to laugh as he too adjusted his course and followed her. Oh, but she was good. He was certain her coldness and fierceness hid a fiery individual who just wanted to be free. He couldn't promise her that he could do that, but he found himself strangely wanting to try. More than anything, he wanted to try. He wanted to see her smile, to see her eyes light up, to see the guards on her eyes go down. He hated when people lived in fear, not that she necessarily was, but she was obviously living with her emotions buried, her heart carefully guarded against all who might try to break in. He knew she wasn't a hard individual, at least, he thought not.

Hoped not.

He had met very few who were actually hard and emotionless, most of the time it was a mask, a front, a wall built very carefully around their heart and emotions because of too much pain. His cousins were living testaments to this fact. And everyday their pain and unwillingness to trust and try again wounded him, more than he would ever dare let on. Maybe that was why he hated to see this breathtaking woman in front of him act this way. She deserved to be happy, to smile, to be lighthearted and carefree. He suspected she had been... once. Though how long ago that had been he couldn't help but wonder. She was good, her every action and the pitch of every word carefully calculated to be cold and to give nothing away. Oh yes, she was good.

Rune didn't even acknowledge the girls that were twittering at him, he was more than used to it. And while he usually enjoyed it, right then he really just wanted them to stop. He was about to glare in their direction, then stopped when he saw the look on her face. Was it possible that it had been so easy to get a reaction from her? A better question though was, what had he done to cause such a look of uncertainty and vulnerability? Could it have something to do with the words that she last threw at him? Surely not... He found no reason to fear her, or anyone else. He had learned how to handle such situations years ago.

Shrugging her shoulders dismissively, Ailrea straightened her spine, her head tilting up slightly.

“Good. Because you’ll probably need those skills if you keep following me. Don’t ever say I didn’t warn you.”

Stopping at a booth, Airlea turned her focus from the man to the vender in front of her. In rapid-fire style, she ran down a short list of supplies that she would need for the up-and-coming weeks of travel. A new piece of flint, oil, a sharpening stone (they wore out so quickly), and some dried fruit (for on the occasion that she failed to find game). Considering how little she went into towns, Airlea bought very little. For the most part, she could live off the woods. All her arrows she made from yew trees and feathers that she either found of plucked off her kills and any food or leather she needed also came from her game.

As she waited, Airlea turned her head and looked up into the stranger’s face.

“So what is your name, my stalking-vender?”

As the man in the booth returned with her small pile of goods, Airlea sternly bartered him down to a reasonable price then paid for her supplies. Tucking them in the pack behind her saddle, she turned to head out of the small town.

Rune watched her carefully, suddenly wondering if the threat her words implied referred to her trying to kill him, or someone else. He processed this in his mind and did not reply, considering if it was indeed safe to be following her. But then again, he couldn't just let her walk away, could he? The thought was incredibly unappealing to him, for some strange reason he was feeling more and more that he never wanted to let her out of his sight.

This direction of thought was interrupted by her words as she spoke to the owner of the booth they had stopped at. She was asking for supplies, ones that obviously indicated a journey. That suggested that she did not live around here.... which could be a good thing. She might live closer to Albaeir. Or, it could be worse. She could live farther away... Rune's focus on his thoughts was finally completely broken when she once again spoke to him, he had hardly realized that he had become so wrapped up in his own musings until she addressed him.

A slow grin crossed his face as he looked into her eyes, marveling once again at how green they were. 'Stalking vendor'..... he liked that. It somehow seemed to suit him very well, at least, it did in his own mind if in no other way. His gaze slowly traveled across her face, seeming to memorize it before returning to her eyes.

'Depends'. A slow smile crept over Airlea's lips as a cat-like sense of curiosity welled up inside of her. 'Depends'. Depends on what? Who he was talking to? Where he was? Probably both. Facing him fully, Airlea ran her gaze intensely over his face. Her look was no longer cursory, nor was it for sheer enjoyment of his physical beauty. No, she wanted to know who he was, this man of mystery. Hand instinctively returning to the hilt of her blade, she frowned as she took the man in. Something about him...her mind had nearly touched on what it was when a young man roughly jostled her as a group of young people pushed by. Scowling, the elf moved with a grace and swiftness that made it almost impossible to discern what she had actually done. Sticking out her foot, she neatly sent the rude male sprawling in the street. Annoyed and now broken out of her revere, she stepped into the street and made her way out of the small village.

Turning her head to the side to meet his gaze, a tight smile formed on her lips.

"Depends. An interesting name to be sure. So Depends, have you exhausted my stores of mystery yet, or are you planning on following me to the great-beyond as well?"

ooc: Arrrggghhhh....an explanation for my un-excusable absent has been posted on the general board. I am SO SORRY.

Rune couldn't help but grin slowly as she spoke. Her voice was so soft and smooth, yet it commanded attention and spoke of importance at the same time. She called herself mysterious, and truthfully, he couldn't think of a better word for her.

He had met his share of mysterious women, they were always the only ones attractive to him. But there were always problems, such as the mystery running out once he had gotten to know them. And then there was always the problem of a lack of interest on the woman's part. He doubted that was the case with the woman in front of him however. He had seen the look in her eyes when she looked at him before, many times before. Never though, had he felt so undeserving of it. He could tell already that she was different, and he knew that she, if anyone could, would keep his interest.

Rune slowly stepped closer to her, looking down at her with an intense gaze that he had practiced almost religiously. He let his eyes wander freely over her face for a moment, before his gaze drifted back up to her eyes.

"Always the great-beyond, I could dream of no other fate I would rather be subject to."

Airlea mentally braced herself, fortifying her mind as the man stepped closer to her. His gaze was penetrating. Resisting the urge to step back, Airlea remained motionless and seemingly unbothered as his firm gaze freely roamed her features. What did he find there? As he spoke, Airlea felt an unwanted thrill settle within her at the deep timbre of his voice. Who would have thought, after all this time, that she could still be so affected by a man?

“"Always the great-beyond, I could dream of no other fate I would rather be subject to."”

As he spoke, the woman’s lips thinned as she pressed them firmly together, thoughtful. Once again she studied his gaze. However, this time it was different. Her eyes did not probe his in mere enjoyment of his physical attractiveness; instead, she looked at him in light of her long life’s experiences. What kind of man was this? If she did not like what she found, now would be the time to send him away. Her solemn gaze meeting his distantly, she stepped back. Although not yet willing to trust him, she did believe him. This was a man accustomed to adventure. He would not be disappointed.

“If that is your choice, I will wait here until the sun reaches those near trees, for you to fetch your belongings and a horse. Then we travel.”

Rune grinned widely at her answer, then grabbed her hand and brushed his lips over it.

"I shall return in just a moment."

After dropping her hand, he ran off in the direction of his stall. Rune hesitated for only a moment once he reached it to think about what he was doing. There was the chance that he was going to get in trouble for leaving, but his assignment did end in a matter of hours, so he told himself that it didn't really matter. It took only a second to grab his saddlebags, one that was packed with blankets, the other with clothes. He had been living out of them the whole time he had been here, unpacking made him nervous as it was just one more thing that could slow him down should he need to leave in a hurry. Just like now.

Rune looked around him one last time, wondering if he was forgetting anything. Deciding that he was too excited to concentrate on that for long, let alone to worry about it, he walked quickly to where his horse was tied and mounted it, ridding back to the beautiful woman who had so captivated him.

It seemed like hours before he reached her again, although it was probably only a matter of minutes. However, all that disappeared into obscurity when he saw her again. He couldn't tell if the sun was hitting her hair, or if it naturally looked that vibrant. Her eyes seemed to sparkle more than he remembered, even though they had only been apart maybe fifteen minutes. She was so much more beautiful than he recalled, making Rune's breath catch in his throat. He found himself completely incapable of speech as he stopped his horse in front of her, he only prayed that it didn't show.

The vendor had not been at all discouraged by the woman’s ultimatum. If anything, he appeared to have been expecting her to say such a thing. After Airlea watched him stride quickly into town, she turned her face towards the mountains. Even from such a distance they still gave off an aurora of untamable power, unpredictable brutality, and wild beauty. Gazing at the far off craggy blue that she knew to be them, Airlea felt something within her spirit stir. The mountains always affected her. Despite her nomadic lifestyle and years of travel, Airlea considered the wild crags her home. It was where she belonged. Amidst the rock, stone, and crag she could almost feel complete. Midst their hardness, the barriers around her soul softened and she became alive. That is why she rarely went to the mountains. To go there, to go to the one place she felt at home, allowed her heart to feel all the love, the pain, the sorrow, and the fear that she had bottled up over her long, long years of life. It had been over two hundred years since she had set foot in the farthest corner of Fynrir, where the mountains grew from their rocky nest. Soon, soon the longing would overcome her trepidation and her feet would lead her home. Soon.

Turning abruptly away from the mountains, Airlea settled down upon a boulder, her heart pounding in her ears. Over her life, she had traveled the breath and width of Feynrir. She doubted there was a place that her eyes had not seen or her feet had not trod at least once. When you have seen all that your world has to offer, where do you go before begining the journey afresh? Home.

Rising jerkily to her feet, Airlea dragged her fingers restlessly through her hair. For months she had felt the longingly to return, but she had set her mind and travel against it. Home. She could wait no longer. This journey, it would seem, would lead to the mountains. Ironic that she would bring a man, a stranger, on such a sacred pilgrimage that she herself only traveled every few hundred years. Perhaps it was an omen. What kind of omen, the elf was not entirely certain. However, never before had she returned to her birthing spot with a companion, and certainly not with a man.

Sensing an approach, the red-head turned towards the town and soon heard the sound of hooves. Shortly after that, the vendor road around the corner on his mount. When he drew abreast of her, Airlea allowed her approval, as well as her surprise, to show on her face. He had been quick; and judging on his full packs, efficient as well. Who was this man? A man who would so actively pursue an untouchable woman, who would seemingly forsake his livelihood in a mere moment, and commit his future to a stranger? An unpredictable man and a man full of mystery. A dangerous combination. She would do well not to trust him too easily.

Tilting up her chin, Airlea offered him a shadow of a smile.

“You can move quickly.”

It was not a flowery compliment, but her voice spoke it with approval. Turning, the cloaked elf moved to the side of her powerful chestnut and touched his shoulder with a gloved hand. Folding his fore legs beneath him, the majestic creature lowered itself into a bowing position. Speaking an ancient version of elvish, a language long forgotten in most of Fynrir and the language of her childhood, she thanked her loyal companion before alighting upon his back. Turning her horse north, she sat like a princess upon her mount. Deft fingers reaching behind her back, she swiftly tamed the wild red locks into a docile braid before sliding the red cord beneath her cloak and lifting the hood over her head. Turning in the saddle, her brooding green eyes and haunted expression met those of her newest companion.

“We go north, vendor. Are you prepared for such a journey? I cannot slow my pace for you once we begin.”